Formula 1 Driver Lewis Hamilton Goes Vegan

All Formula 1 fans watch the big race, waiting to see if Lewis Hamilton will take first place home. But did they know he’s now vegan?

Hamilton was inspired by a documentary featuring the meat industry and how it affects the environment, animals and our health. He also has a family history of cancer and diabetes, and following a plant-based diet will help reverse these diseases.

“I stopped eating red meat two years ago,” Hamilton said. “I have generally been pescatarian for the majority of the year and now I’ve cut fish.

“As the human race, what we are doing to the world… the pollution [in terms of emissions of global-warming gases] coming from the amount of cows that are being produced is incredible.

“They say it is more than what we produce with our flights and our cars, which is kind of crazy to think. The cruelty is horrible and I don’t necessarily want to support that and I want to live a healthier life.”

So far, Hamilton finds the plant-based diet slightly hard to follow. He’s managed a fully plant-based diet while in Singapore, while chefs cater to him.

“So far I don’t feel as if I have been missing out,” he said. “But I don’t know how easy it is going to be when I get home. That is going to be a real test.

“Every person I have met who has gone vegan says it is the best decision they have ever made.”

Don’t worry, Hamilton, since there are many great vegan recipes online and plenty of vegan cookbooks to get you started! Many vegans start by thinking that the diet will be tough to follow, but there are so many amazing, vegan-friendly products in the market.

We trust that Hamilton is determined to keep up the diet, especially when considering his family’s medical history.

“I don’t want in 10 or 20 years to have diabetes or catch any of that stuff,” Hamilton said.

“I can continue to decide to eat that stuff and take that risk, but when you get [a disease or illness like that], you want to make change, so I am trying to pr-empt that.

“I think it’s the right direction and by letting people who are following me know, maybe that will encourage a couple of people to do the same thing.”

Interested in going vegan? Get started by checking out great recipes here!